Seattle Public Utilities
Solid Waste Facilities Master Plan

Situation
The Seattle City Council instructed Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to prepare a Solid Waste Facilities Master Plan to solve the problems identified in the Comprehensive Solid Waste Plan. Because of the neighborhood concerns around the existing facilities, SPU asked Triangle design a public outreach and information strategy to involve citizens and other stakeholders in the development of the plan.

Process
Triangle prepared and implemented a strategy, including preparing informational materials, overseeing a customer survey, designing, supporting and summarizing input from public meetings and preparing reports that showed how citizen, business, and employee input was been incorporated into the planning process. Triangle offered advice on key messages and prepared advance publicity materials using newspaper ads and media releases, targeted letters, email lists, website calendars, and a network of stakeholders who were willing to forward meeting information.

Results
Triangle continued to provide strategic advice, public involvement support, and communications products throughout the environmental review process and subsequent facility siting process. Triangle will continue this support as the City of Seattle starts the design and reconstruction of the two existing recycling and disposal stations in the South Park and Fremont/Wallingford neighborhoods. This will include working with community stakeholders to design a process and a facility that meets the needs of both SPU and the neighborhood where the facilities are located.